Two Texas A&M Health postdoctoral researchers earn NIH Pathway to Independence awards

Two early-career scientists at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) have been awarded the highly competitive National Institutes of Health (NIH) “Pathway to Independence” Award, a grant designed to help postdoctoral fellows transition into independent faculty positions.

Chetna Dureja, a postdoctoral researcher in the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, studies Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), a dangerous hospital-acquired infection often fueled by antibiotic use. Dureja’s work focuses on identifying genetic pathways that regulate the bacteria’s toxin production—insights that could lead to new therapies that target virulence of the bacteria without disrupting the gut’s microbiome. Inspired by her own childhood experiences with prolonged antibiotic treatments and drug-resistant infections, Dureja hopes to chart a career dedicated to combating antimicrobial resistance.

“This award is a pivotal step for me,” Dureja said. “It gives me the skills and resources to develop into an independent investigator and to advance solutions for antibiotic resistance. I’m especially grateful to my mentor, Dr. Julian G. Hurdle, and to the supportive research environment here at Texas A&M.”

Siara K. Rouzer, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics at the Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, is investigating how alcohol and cannabinoids affect brain development when exposure occurs before or during pregnancy. Her research looks beyond maternal exposures to also examine how a father’s drinking before conception can shape offspring health. Rouzer studies how these exposures alter brain circuits tied to learning, motivation and self-control—functions often disrupted in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

“What inspires me is the need to reflect real-world complexity,” Rouzer said. “Families affected by FASD are often navigating not just alcohol, but also co-use with other substances. By modeling those conditions in the lab, we can ask better questions about prevention and treatment.”

The grant provides up to five years of funding—two years of mentored postdoctoral research followed by three years of independent support once recipients secure faculty roles. Both Dureja and Rouzer said the award provides not only crucial financial support but also recognition within their fields that will accelerate their careers.

“The program is critical for the success of early-stage investigators who are seeking a career in academia,” said Tom Cunningham, senior associate dean for research in the Vashisht College of Medicine. “Successfully competing for this award helps fund Dr. Dureja’s and Dr. Rouzer’s transition from postdoctoral fellow to tenure-track position, giving them a boost in their search for a faculty position.”

With these awards, Dureja and Rouzer join a select group of researchers nationwide whose work is expected to shape the future of medicine and public health. 

For Texas A&M Health postdoctoral researchers interested in pursuing similar funding opportunities, the Office of Research in the Vashisht College of Medicine will host an upcoming K99/R00 Workshop and Mock Study Section. Learn more at tx.ag/k99workshop.